Locomotive stoker



N. M. LOWER,

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER.

'APPLECATION FILED FEB 24. 1910.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

3 SHLEYSCYZEST 2- 1% men 60% N. M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER. APPLICATION FILED H8124, 19:9.

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Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ears-N r ensues.

STOKER COMP, PENNSYLVANIA.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION 015 Locomorrvn sroKER.

' I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN M. LOWER, a citizen of the States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive" Stokers, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

The invention appertains to stokers in which fuel is discharged intothe fire-box through a distributing tube set through the back head, and relates more especially to means for securing the distributor. tube in position and for-preventing the discharge of flame or smoke from the fire-box around this tube.

In stokers of this type the distributor tube projects into the interior of the fire-box, and being subjected to intense heat is' soon burned off, rendering replacement necessary. The tube is placed in position from within the fire-box, the -workman being obliged to enter the box for this purpose. As it is frequently necessary to do the work whenthe engine is too hot to permit a man I to remain in the fire-box but a few minutes at a time, it is important that means be provided for securing the tube externally and quickly after'it has been put in positibn.

I The mechanism for delivering'fuel to the distributor tube is massive, and it is further important that the means for connecting and disconnecting the tube be of such a nature that replacement can be made without disturbing the delivery device.

It is further of-importance that the distributor tube can be carried by the delivery device and form a part of it rather than of the boiler, in order that the parts may not be strained or broken by expansion and contraction. In service the back head of the boiler is moved backward by e xpan'sion to the extent of three-eighths of an inch, or even more. The stoking mechanism is massive and necessarily firmly secured in place, and

. feeding elbow, and-in sliding relation tov it must be freedfrom 'the expansive movement of the boiler.

This'feature of the invention consists of a tube having its outer end adapted to fit and be secured to the fuel delivery mechanism, herein shown as an elevator and a Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lwa r, 2%, 11922. Application filed February 24, 1919. Serial No. 278,917. I

the boiler. An adjustable hook bolt eny gaging the distributor tube, and being secured between lugs on the elbow by=means of a Illli3,y8.fi01d$ the means of attachment, in the illustrated embodiment of the inven- 1on. P

The'life of the distributor tube is prolonged by providing for the admission of air around it,-the tube being made somewhat smaller than the aperture in the back head of the fire-box through which it projects.

A. second object ofthe invention has for its purpose the elimination of these difliculties, and this feature of the invention consists in the combination with a distributor tube loosely fitting through the back head).

of the fire-box to provide air passages, of a shield surrounding the tube and depending therefrom and being spaced apart from the back head to form an inclosed chamber, this chamber being provided with an opening at or near its bottom for the admission of air. The third object of the invention is to provide for the fitting of the shield to the back head. The stoker mechanism is usually constructed independently of the locomotive, and installed by its maker. While the manufacturer. of the stoker constructs thedevice in accordance with specifications, and the locomotives which are to be pro vided with stokers are especially designed for their attachment, it is a common experience to find that the apertures provided in the locomotive for receiving the distributor tubes are, not accurately positioned. In order to provide for the application of the stoker to the locomotive, notwithstanding such inaccuracy, .it is usual to have the back head aperture made somewhat larger than necessary to receive the tube. That the smoke shield may be secured regardless. of the position of the distributor tube within the back head aperture, it is provided with slotted bolt-holes.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a detail rertical section through the back, head of a fire-box 'and the distributor tube, the upper end of a fuel, elevator being shown in elevation;

- Fig. 2 is a detail plan section on the line 22 of F ig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the back head of the fire-box and of the outer end of the distributor tube positioned in the shield, the attaching hook bolt being shown in section;

ig. 4 is a detail horizontal section through the back head of the fire-box, the distributor tube being shown in plan; and

Fig. 5 is a detail rear view of a locomotive with a stoker applied thereto.

The back head of a locomotive fire-box is shown at 10, and as usual is chambered to contain water. This backhead is apertured to loosely receive the fuel distributor tube 11, there being a thimble 12 fitted within the aperture to make a water-tight joint.

The tube 11 ha its forward'end suitably configured to provide for the distribution of the fuel over the entire surface of the grate. The deflecting vanes and top plate render the dimensions of the inner end of the tube greater than that of'its body, necessitating the insertion of the tube within the aperture in the backhead from within the fire-box. The outer end of the tube is adapted to fit against the end face of the discharge member 13 of the elevator conduit 14:. This con- I duit may bear the same relation to the firebox as do the elevator conduits shown in Letters Patent No. 1,371,252, issued to me March 15, 1921, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings of this application. Preferably an annular rib 15 is formed upon the face of the discharge member 13, of the conduit, to inclose and make a tight joint with the end of the tube 11.

- A hook bolt 16, fitting between a pair ofv upstanding lugs 17 on the end of the outlet member 13 of the conduit 14, enters a suitable aperture in the tube 11. A nut 18, applied to the end of the bolt 16,'bears against the rear faces of these lugs and draws the bolt backwardly, and with it the tube 11, securely binding the latter to the member 13. The weight of the distributor tube may be, and in the present construction is, relied .tures, as 24, 25, for the admlssion of air,

upon to hold it snugly againstthe member 13, although the-securing means is applied only at the top. I

A shield plate 19, apertured toslidingly receive the outer end, of the tube 11, is secured to the back head of the fire-box by sultable bolts, as 20, 20, and 21, 21. This plate is provided Witha marginalfiange 22, which bears against the outer face of the back head, its body portion being. thereby spaced apart from this surface to form-therewith an air chamber 23. At the lower portion of the plate there are provided apjeifair within the chamber 23 is heated by its contact with the surface of the back head,

and, rising, fiows into the fire-box continuously, even though the forced draft may be distributor tube, it will be deflected down-' wardly through the chamber 23 and discharged along the surface of the back head, between it and the conduit 14, without endangering the occupants of the cab.

The distributor tube 11 issupported entirely by the member 13, though in the adjustment of the device it' may contact with the shield'plate 19. The slidable relation of this plate with the tube permits of the expansion of theboiler without placing strain upon the fuel elevating and discharging mechanism.

The bolts 20, 21, set through elongated apertures in the plate 19, the upper apertures accommodating the bolts 20 being preferably shown inclined and the lower apertures accommodating the bolts 21 being vertically elongated. These apertures being sufliciently wide to form a loose fit for the bolts, permit of the proper positioning of the plate, notwithstanding any irregularities which may have occurred in locating the aperture in the back head. An impelling steam jet is indicated at 26.

. I claim as my invention 1. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, fuel delivering means comprising a discharging member provided with a pair of outstanding lugs, a distributor tube adapted to extend from the member through the back head of a locomotive fire-box and having an aperture adjacent its outer end, a bolt having a hook for engaging in the aperture, the body of the bolt extending between the lugs, and a nut applied to the end of the bolt and bearing against the lugs.

2. In combination, 'a fire-box having an aperture in its back head, a fuel distributor tube projecting loosely through the aperture to provide an air passage alongits outer surface, and a shield plate apertured to snugly fit upon the outer. end of the tube and having marginal flanges bearing against the outer surface of the back head and having an aperture below the tube.

3. In combination, a fire-box having an aperture in its back head, a fuel distributor tube projecting loosely through the aperture to provide an air passage along its outer surface, a shield plate-apertured to snugly fit upon the outer end of the tube and having marginal flanges bearing against the outer surface of the back head and having an aperture below the tube, and having elongated holes for receiving attaching bolts. for engaging the back head.

4. In combination, a fire-box having an aperture in its back head, a fuel distributor tube projecting loosely through the aperture to provide an air passage along its outer surface, a shield plate apertured to slidingly fit upon the outer end of the tube and having marginal flanges bearing against the outer surface of the back head and having an aperture below the tube andhaving elongated holes for receiving attaching bolts for engaging the back hea 5. In a locomotive stoker, in combination,

a fuel conduit having a discharge member,

and a tube for delivering fuel to the loco- 20 motive fire-box, such tube being secured to the member by means engaging its top wall and being held to the face of the member by its own weight. g

6. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a fuel con'duit having a discharge member,

and a tube for delivering fuel into the firemember, a tube for delivering fuel into the I fire box of a locomotive, a. hook' engaging said tube and having a nut resting upon said lugs, said tube being held to the face of said member by its own weight and being removably suspended by the hook.

. NATHAN M. LOWER. 

